Requisition ID: req50859

Job Title: Deputy Protection and Child Protection Working Group Coordinator

Sector: Protection and rule of law

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Al-Hassaka, Syria

Deadline: 24 March,2024 

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

Background/IRC Summary: 

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria - more than half of the country's population - need humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

On 29 June 2019 the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) signed an Action Plan with the United Nations (UN) to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children under the age of 18. According to global practice, the UN will, together with the humanitarian community, support the Action Plan implementation. Since its signature, progress has been made in terms of coordination, partnership, fundraising and awareness raising. IRC hosts the Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) coordination function.

Job Overview/Summary:

As the Deputy Child Protection and Protection Working Group coordinator you will refer directly to the Inter-Agency Protection Coordinator and Child Protection AoR Coordinator. You will be the deputy of the coordinators, assisting them in developing and rolling out a coordination strategy, engagement with Authorities and coordination of partners. This to ensure strategic, coherent, effective, and efficient humanitarian Child Protection and Protection response with considerations for the prevention and response to child recruitment in Northeast Syria aligned with global minimum standards. You will also establish and maintain appropriate coordination mechanisms to support humanitarian agencies engaged in protection and child protection activities. Facilitate inter-cluster coordination at the national and area-based levels, ensuring that protection is mainstreamed and integrated throughout the humanitarian response. The Deputy will co-chair the Protection and Child Protection monthly meetings.

Responsibilities:

Technical Quality and Implementation

• Support Protection and Child Protection AoR Coordinators in ensuring effective coordination among humanitarian agencies engaged in child protection and protection related activities.
• With the guidance of the coordinators, engage in close collaboration with other relevant sectors (e.g., Education, Cash, Food Security, Livelihood, MHPSS, SSWG etc.), to ensure the inclusion/mainstreaming of protection and Child Protection standards and related activities across sectors; and build capacity across sectors to effectively identify and respond to protection.
• To support the coordinators in facilitating the development and implementation of the PWG and specific AoR strategy, work plan, and priorities in Northeast Syria, in line with the Humanitarian Response Plan and the Cluster strategy at the national level.

• Support in production of reports, including situation monitoring and protection monitoring that will inform members on protection and child protection trends in Northeast Syria.
• Liaise and closely collaborate with local authorities to support and monitor interventions and policy making in support of child protection.
• Where need be assisting the coordinators in preparing and providing training, capacity building and awareness raising sessions to NES humanitarian actors, stakeholders and relevant focal points related to Protection standards and guidelines.
• Coordinate with child protection and protection actors in identifying trainers of trainees, support in developing capacity building plans for actors and authorities and oversee their capacity building process. 
• Maintain a database for released children respecting data protection protocol, and global standards.
• To support the coordination and Area Based Protection Sector Coordination and work closely with the lead and co-lead agencies and work closely with Area of Responsibilities (AoR).
• Act as a focal point for Children and Armed Conflict: Case Management system related to reintegration, including receiving cases from the CPAC Office; leading the case allocation process; and documenting updates and best practices for reporting purposes in support with the Information management manager.

• In coordination with NES Forum support any need assessments in detention and Rehabilitation centers across NES.  

Reporting

• Act as an alternate to the Protection and Child Protection AoR Coordinators in various coordination meetings and in support to partner humanitarian agencies.
• Help organize, facilitate, participate as well as assist in note taking during meetings, as well as possibly assist with regular translation from/to English, Arabic and Kurdish.
• Compile and analyze data from own, sectorial and partners assessments to identify gaps and opportunities and advise on possible new areas of intervention in coordination with the information management officer.
• Work closely with the information management officer on data analysis, production of visual, to inform the Protection and AoR members.
• Assist with the preparation of fundraising proposals and donor reporting, as well as support the overall management of child protection and other sector partnerships.
• Work closely with Supply Chain team to coordinate logistics for all CAAC TF related activities and events, and other spending as needed.
• Effectively manage the project budget, including completing budgets vs actuals reporting, drafting spending plans and ensuring timely spending towards outputs.

Management, Learning & Development

• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths of the PWG partners and authorities.

• Coach, train, and mentor  partners, including communicating clear expectations according to needs,
• Maintain open and professional relations with partners and authorities, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable to  to achieve success.
• Hold high-quality meetings with project partners and authorities.
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance.
• As required, identify weakness and provide adequate means for strengthening the delivery of activities by partners.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable all to successfully perform.
• Promote and monitor team care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified care needs of those involved.

Qualifications

• University degree with Minimum 5 years of experience from which minimum 3 years in a managerial level.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in humanitarian protection work, preferably in conflict or complex emergency settings.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of international humanitarian law, human rights law, refugee law, and humanitarian principles and standards.
• Proven experience in coordination, leadership, representation, advocacy, and partnership building in humanitarian contexts.

• Strong analytical, communication, facilitation, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• The desirable qualifications and competencies for the Deputy PWG Coordinator are:
• Experience in working in Northeast Syria or similar contexts.
• Experience in working with UN agencies, INGOs, local NGOs, donors, etc.
• Familiarity with humanitarian coordination mechanisms and tools, such as clusters/sectors, OCHA, HRP, HNO, 4Ws, etc.
• Knowledge of specific protection issues and challenges in Northeast Syria, such as IDPs, refugees, returnees, host communities, etc.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Credible written, presentation and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development.
• Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution.
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.
• Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
• Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
• Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop and a sense of humor is a must.
• Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

English and Arabic is required.

Travel: 65% to field sites across all governorates, as well as attending WoS level workshops and meetings.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Protection Coordinator

Indirect Reports to: Child Protection AoR Coordinator

Position directly supervises: N/A

Indirect Reporting (If applicable):

Key Internal Contacts: Grant Management team, finance team and supply chain management team  

Key External Contacts: UN-Qamishli and WoS counter parts, NES Forum, ISWG members Local Authorities and stakeholders

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.